Category: Features

Drugs have been a part of the music industry for as long as can be remembered. From rock stars coked up after-parties, to artists lighting up spliffs on stage, however much one may or may not like it, they have always been there. Drugs in the music industry is still as big a thing as it ever was, with many songs in the charts making reference to them and sometimes even glorifying the use of them. It has become such a common thing that people hardly notice when The Weeknd is proclaiming the effects of cocaine on I Can’t Feel My Face, or Rihanna is singing about dancing whilst on ecstasy on her track Diamonds.

There has to come the point though where you ask: where do you draw the line at musicians promoting and referencing drug use?

Of course it is common knowledge that a lot of musicians do, or once have dabbled with, some kind of drugs, but when is it taken too far that it is actually detrimental to an artist’s fan base?

As one of the biggest festivals in the world embarks on its second weekend of live music, the question is, what has happened to the music?

Last weekend it was difficult not to stumble over an article covering Coachella, the annual live music and arts festival held in Indio, California. With headline acts including Guns ‘n’ Roses, Calvin Harris and LCD Soundsystem, the festival had coverage from hundreds of newspapers, magazines and blogs. The reportage, however, was a mixture of reviews of the performances, which so called ‘celebrities’ attended and, most importantly, what they were wearing.

Festival fashion is not a new thing, with high street stores annually guiding you what to wear to the biggest live music events of the summer. Bum bags, flower hair garlands, see through rain macs – we’ve seen them all, but shouldn’t the focus be on the music and not the fashion?

Live At Leeds is back again this year and is proudly celebrating its 10th anniversary with a huge line up full of established and up-and-coming acts.

Live At Leeds, the award winning metropolitan festival, will take place this year on Saturday 30th April in a variety of venues across Leeds. The festival is an opportunity for fans to see new emerging artists as well as more established acts in different locations across Leeds, all in one jam-packed day!

With the festival celebrating its 10th anniversary, a huge accolade for such a small music event, the line up this year is bigger and better than ever before. With a variety of artists from across the country making their way to the lively city of Leeds, fans will be treated to some spectacular performances throughout the day.

With a line up boasting over 150 acts, the decision of who to see will be a tough one. To help you decide which artists not to miss, we thought we’d let you in on our top picks.

­For some, the name Anne-Marie may not ring many bells, but you’re almost certain to have heard some of the tracks she has featured on recently. Having toured with English drum and bass duo Rudimental for the past two years as their lead live vocalist, Anne-Marie has started to make a name for herself performing on the band’s tracks ‘Love Ain’t Just a Word’ with Dizzee Rascal and ‘Rumour Mill’ with Will Heard, and has recently collaborated with Wretch 32 on ‘Alright With Me’.

Now Anne-Marie is making a name for herself with the release of her EP ‘Karate’ last year, followed by singles ‘Boy’ and more recently, ‘Do It Right’. Best described as a fusion of R&B, hip-hop and pop, Anne-Marie’s music stands out for all the right reasons in today’s heavily crowded music scene.

It is fair to say that yesterday I received some of the best news of my life. I have been offered not one, but two weeks work experience at one of the biggest radio stations in the country, BBC Radio 1!

I was absolutely shocked when they called me and, after a small chat, offered me the job. I will be at the BBC Broadcasting House for 2 weeks during the Easter holidays, where I will be working on various areas at the station.

It is certainly an understatement to say that am I excited and I cannot wait to get experience at such a notable station. The things I will learn during my time there will be so valuable for the future and I just can’t wait to start now!

In life there are decisions to make. Small ones, large ones and even bigger ones that you thought you’d never have to. In the end, however, they all make a difference. Each decision is a piece of the jigsaw that is our life. Like most, we try and fit it together carefully and correctly, but sometimes we have to take a piece out or start all over again. This doesn’t suggest we’ve failed; it just indicates that there may be a different route to completing the jigsaw. And anyway, what’s the fun in getting it right the first time?

So today is a very exciting day as I got my first ever article published! About two weeks ago I applied, and was accepted, for a job as a Digital Content Contributor for TMRW Magazine. I suggested that I could write a festival preview about Barn on the Farm and they liked my idea. I sent it off at the beginning of the week and it got published today! This feels like the first big step in my journey to becoming a music journalist! Click here to read the finished thing. Here’s to, what will hopefully be, many more published articles!